Monday, April 22, 2013

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to co-host at my home a sip & see (post pregnancy baby shower) for a dear friend of mine. The whole thing was lovely, the food was delicious, and snuggling with an adorable newborn was a welcomed treat.

I take no credit for the amazing food and decor. My only real work was getting the house and myself semi decent for a dozen ladies to enjoy their afternoon. Amy T. and Summer Block, you gals are amazing and I will co-host (and eat all your goodies [Amy T. made FROM SCRATCH macarons!!] and appreciate your decor taste) alongside you anytime!

Thursday, March 21, 2013

I've been a bit absent from this little blog space these last few months since it's been harder to find quality time for myself that doesn't involve procrastinating down the internet rabbit hole. Mostly my days have been filled with enjoying the beautiful southern California spring weather or snuggling at home and keeping up with the nesting needs of a family with two kids and a little house. (Those three days of dishes won't wash themselves, our dog refuses to put away our mountain of laundry, and the dandelion weeds in the yard just get bigger every day.) Throw in mixed work schedules and suddenly there's a new week and a new list of to dos ahead of us.

For those of you that don't know me personally, my part time job
is actually as a "Personal Shopper" for a major retailer. (I even have little business cards with my name printed on them!) It's so much fun to play with clothes and to meet and help people
update wardrobes for new jobs, events, and/or life changes. All of it
is such a neat way for me to play with my own style while meeting the
needs and styles of so many other awesome women.

I've been refreshing some bits of our home lately too. We've been here almost a year, and even though most projects still have a way to go before the home feels complete, I've found that taking time to spruce up little vignettes throughout our space, helps me feel more at peace with the bigger projects still ahead.

Today I thought I'd break my bloggy silence for a current mix up of some of my favorite home spots and translate them to some of my current favorite outfit inspirations.

Clothing can be so much more than fabric.

Even just segments of a gallery wall in our bedroom can pull out pops of color and a unified feel. This outfit via Atlantic-Pacific gives me that same feel for color contrasts, ease, and even a sense of movement. The black heels glam it up, but the more sensible "park chic" mom in me would probably wear some ballet flats instead. :)

Our home is such a mash up of favorite things. There's no rule that says they need to match. Which is why I am definitely a fan of mixing prints. Done too wildly and you can give yourself a headache. Done just right like this outfit again via Atlantic-Pacific and those favorite pieces in your closet are now best friends.

On afternoons when I'm lucky and both kids are napping, I climb into this chair, procrastinate whatever seems totally boring, and curl up with a book. The root of this outfit via The Sartorialist is just a pair of flared jeans, simple white tee, and an easy tailored jacket. It's cozy, effortless, classic, and still has its own personality.

I know. I know. It's a problem. But what's more of a problem is collecting all of this fun jewelry and not wearing it. I never, ever want to feel "done up." So when I want to wear some extra sparkles, I make sure my outfit stays neutral like Olivia Palermo's via Stockholm StreetStyle and let the accessories do all the work.

We have a lot of vintage elements throughout our home, but I never want it to feel like an antique store in here. The same goes for any vintage pieces I have in my closet. If it feels like I'm wearing a costume, the piece will just sit in a dark corner and never be worn. This outfit via calivintage's Flickr photostream has that sweet vintage feel without making you feel like she's stepped out of a time machine. She's classic, retro, and yet totally fresh.

Youthful whimsy runs wildly through our house. And to be honest, did so even before our kids were born. Is 33 too old to be super excited that the youthful whimsy of overalls is finding their way back into street style again? I mean we all had Osh Kosh as kids, and we all went through an "obsessed with Felicity Porter" phase in college, right? But now in my thirties, I can simply throw on a sweet necklace, a foldover clutch, and cuff the hems like this look via Where Did U Get That and I can be so current, right? Right?

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

I know it's a little late for thanksgiving leftover recipes, but these were too good (and too easy!) not to share.

Crescent rolls make great savory pockets for leftover turkey, veggies, stuffing, etc.
I chopped all the leftover goodies I had into little cubes.
Added a tablespoon of cream cheese to bind it all together.
Mixed it all up.
Spooned it onto the dough.
Folded away.
Brushed lightly with an egg wash.
Baked according to crescent roll instructions until golden brown.
Ate delicious "turkey pies" (as Miller called them) for the next few days!

For some sweet leftover crescent rolls goodies...
I mixed a tablespoon each of cream cheese and goat cheese
Spread the cheese mixture onto the rolled out crescent roll (pressing together the perforations).
Spread a top layer of leftover stirred cranberry sauces (homemade and canned).
Rolled up and cut into pinwheels.
Baked according to crescent roll instructions until golden brown.
These were gone in a matter of hours. :)

I've spent the last month soaking up a lot of moments. Choosing my free time to write, nap, snuggle, play, and occasionally pick up around our little home.

I often read so many other blogs and websites to find inspiration, but lately I was feeling overwhelmed that so many other people were somehow doing "it" [life] so much better than me. I immediately pulled myself away from the computer screen to allow myself some distance from that envy. Distance to spend on myself and my family and our great community of friends.

Monday, November 5, 2012

“We both touched wood on the cafe table and the waiter came to see what
it was we wanted. But what we wanted he, nor anyone else, nor knocking
on wood or on marble, as this cafe table-top was, could ever bring us.
But we did not know it that night and we were very happy.” -
Ernest Hemingway,
A Moveable Feast

I forget what I want a lot of the time.
A feeling on the tip of my tongue of finding myself needed.
Finding myself important.
Finding myself memorable.

Stories of loss and tragedy leave me feeling useless and guilty and superficial. In just a few words I can spiral.
And then a few blurry Halloween pictures melt all of that needy, guilty forgetfulness away.
I am needed.
I am important.
I am memorable.

I am lucky.

Sharing these pictures and sharing my little blog is me constantly knocking on wood. These moments, even the blurry ones, even the useless and guilty and superficial ones, ground my shaking fearful feet.

Thanks for being an audience. Thanks for sharing blurry moments with me.

Monday, October 29, 2012

“Saturday morning was come, and all the summer world was bright and
fresh, and brimming with life. There was a song in every heart; and if
the heart was young, the music issued at the lips. There was cheer in
every face and a spring in every step. The locust-trees were in bloom,
and the fragrance of the blossoms filled the air. Cardiff Hill, beyond
the village and above, it was green with vegetation, and it lay just far
enough away to seem a Delectable Land, dreamy, reposeful, and
inviting.” - Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

May all your adventures be dreamy, reposeful, and inviting too. Even if it's not summer. And even if the adventure sometimes seems rather small.

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I'm not as consistent with blogging here as much as I would like. Days can be quickly spent with life and work and making memories. All the mundane and/or deep bits I share here come from my heart and I truly enjoy sharing all of it with you, dear readers. I hope you enjoy following along.

Find me on instagram where I'm often sharing quick peeks into the life I call home. (@actualizingamy)

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